The veteran character actor enjoyed a prolific Hollywood career that spanned decades from 1973 to 2014 and included roles in popular series such as The New Odd Couple, Firefly and Friends.

R.I.P. Ron Glass, whose Hollywood TV career spanned decades from 1973 to 2014, has died. He was 71.

The actor's rep, Jeffrey Leavitt confirmed to TMZ on Saturday that he died from respiratory failure.

'Ron passed late last night of respiratory failure. Ron was a private, gentle and caring man. He was an absolute delight to watch on screen. Words cannot adequately express my sorrow', he told the website.

Most recently, he'd had parts in Major Crimes, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

His Firefly co-star Alan Tudyk described him as 'one of the greatest actors to work with,' in a tribute he paid on Twitter.

He wrote: 'Ron Glass was one of the greatest actors to work with. His laugh was beyond infectious and his generosity was ever present.'

Joss Whedon also paid tribute, writing: 'He got there with grace, humor & enormous heart. He was, among so many other things, my Shepherd. Raise, appropriately, a glass. Rest, Ron.'

Nathan Fillion wrote: 'We love you, Ron Glass. Don't go far.'

Jewel Staite took to Instagram to post a picture with the late actor, which she captioned: 'This is me acting like an idiot just so I could hear Ron Glass laugh. He was the kind of person that remembered the details, that asked about your family's well-being. He hugged hard and often.

'He would laugh till he cried at a sick joke and top it with a worse one. He loved a Grey Goose crantini and spilled one on my white jeans in the heat of telling a story, and then just said, "Girl, those were ugly pants anyway."